H2S-promoted thermal isomerization of butene-2 CIS to butene-1 or butene-2 trans around 500°C

H₂S increases the thermal isomerization of butene-2 cis (B_c) to butene-1 (B₁) and butene-2 trans (B_t) around 500°C. This effect is interpreted on the basis of a free radical mechanism in which buten-2-yl and thiyl free radicals are the main chain carriers. B₁ formation is essentially explainedby the metathetical steps: whereas the free radical part of B_t formation results from the addition–elimination processes: . It is shown that the initiation step of pure B_c thermal reaction is essentially unimolecular: and that a new initiation step occurs in the presence of H₂S: . The rate constant ratio has been evaluated: and the best values of k₁ and k_1', consistent with this work and with thermochemical data, are . From thermochemical data of the literature and an “intrinsic value” of E_?3 ? 2 kcal/mol given by Benson, further values of rate constants may be proposed: is shown to be E₄ ? 3.5 ± 2 kcal/mol, of the same order as the activation energy of the corresponding metathetical step.